Finland Ready For Football Festival

Oliver Walker-Peel (@olliewalkerpeel)

Excitement is brimming across the Finland Cerebral Palsy Football community, with two men's international friendlies against France to take place later this week in Joensuu.

The matches will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Joensuun keskuskenttä, with both games to kick off at 3 pm local time (12 pm GMT).

Finland team manager Ville Sallinen, who was recently part of SJK's staff at the 2024 IFCPF Club World Cup in Barcelona, recognises how crucial bringing events to the country is and relishes an opportunity to play games at home for the second consecutive year.

"Bringing more CP Football events to Finland is an important part of our new development strategy," Sallinen said.

"After a decade of only playing international matches abroad, last year we faced Denmark in two friendlies in Helsinki and now we are excited to host France in Joensuu."

Alongside the internationals, Cerebral Palsy Football players under the age of 18 will also get the opportunity to play, with an event to be held prior to kick-off on Saturday. A similar event was held in Helsinki in 2022 when the UEFA Super Cup was played in the Finnish capital.

Sallinen sees the two-day spectacle as a chance to accelerate the growth of the sport in Finland, with a women's national team on the horizon.

"It is a great chance to bring the event to Joensuu and the North Karelia region.

"We hope to inspire young players all around the country and show the opportunities this great sport can offer.

"It is also our great hope to start the women's national team in the coming years."

Like Sallinen, Finland legend Ville Kuronen also worked with Jesse Laajaranta and the SJK squad last month, and is ready to compete for his national team again.

The Finland talisman has experienced joy against France previously; when the two sides last met, Kuronen scored in a 1-1 draw that helped his country to a bronze medal as part of Catalan Sports Week in 2023.

"It is always a privilege to be called up to represent Finland," Kuronen said.

"France is an interesting opponent, they have many skilful players in their team.

"I am expecting tough and exciting matches because last year, we drew 1-1 against them, I scored our only goal in that game."

Both matches will also be live-streamed on the Football Association of Finland's YouTube channel.